Hats created at St. Elizabeth’s to help ‘Superstorm’ victims

WARM RELIEF Winter hats crocheted and knitted for those in need through St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church, Higgins Lake, will be distributed as far away as New York. Over 100 hats were recently sent from the church to aid in disaster relief following Superstorm Sandy. Some of those helping with the project, pictured pinning finished hats on the “hat tree,” include Phyllis Mills, Sally Wallen, Kaye Bullard, Emily Dunnem, Gloria Patterson and Berneice and Bob Southworth. (Courtesy photo) Some 120 crochet and knitted winter hats have been sent from St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church, Higgins Lake to New York for disaster relief following Superstorm Sandy last month, according to Church Secretary Barbara Orser.

Orser has been in touch with the Priest-in-Charge of Saint Ann and Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Brooklyn Heights, the Rev. John Denaro.

“He and his assistant, the Rev. Sarah Koopercamp, are excited to participate in this partnership,” Orser said. “Sarah is in charge of their parish response to Hurricane Sandy. They said our initiative fits in beautifully with their effort.”

The program of making hats for the needy (and not-so-needy) has spanned five years so far at St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church.

According to Sunday School director

Bob Southworth it started modestly, then snowballed. “First it was a Sunday School project,” he said. “But the kids liked the hats they made so much they wanted to keep them. So some other adults joined in and pretty soon we had enough to begin giving them to needy kids.”

Since then, Southworth reports, some 200 hats per year have been made and given away by an ever-enlarging volunteer group, a group that includes not only the kids of the Sunday School and adult members of the church, but other community members as well, some from a quilting group that meets weekly at the church.

“One year the distribution was through a program managed by Chemical Bank,” Southworth said.

He added that in other years giving was direct. Recipients have been students in all the Roscommon Area Public Schools, elementary, middle and high schools, as well as schools in St. Helen. So far more than 1,000 hats have been provided under the program.

For information call 821-9197. The church is located at 2936 East Higgins Lake Dr., Roscommon.